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BLACK FOOTED FERRET
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Mustela nigripes
HOUSE NAME: Male "Flatback"
HABITAT: Historically was prevalent in North American
prairies from Southern Saskatchewan to Northern Mexico and east from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains including much of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. Now only present in the wild in select reintroduction sites.
Live exclusively in prairie dog burrows of the short grass prairie.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Endangered
CONSERVATION RESOURCES:
The National Flack-Footed Ferret Conservation Center
(U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service).
Association of Zoos & Aquariums - SAFE Program
IMAGE: A small weasel-like animal
with white/tan body fur, black paws,
and a black, mask-like pattern on its
face.
DESCRIPTION: Length is 20-24 inches including a 5-6-inch tail. Weighs up to 2 ½ pounds with males being slightly larger than females. Body is long and narrow with short legs. Ears are prominent. The color is normally a yellow-buff but is paler on the underparts. The forehead, muzzle, and throat are nearly white; top of head and middle of back are brown; face mask, feet, and tip of tail are black.
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